1.
Meet Mark Ridder - AHA Heart Valve Ambassador
Read about Mark's journey with heart valve disease, which began in high school, when a heart murmur was detected in a routine physical exam. Later in life he was diagnosed with aortic valve stenosis, which ultimately turned severe enough to require valve replacement surgery.

3.
Roles of Your Four Heart Valves
To better understand your valve condition, it helps to know the role each heart valve plays in providing healthy blood circulation.

4.
Meet Christine Rekash - AHA Heart Valve Ambassador
Christine Rekash thought she was prepared for open-heart surgery to repair a failing mitral valve, but several complications following her procedure made her realize that she had to take one step at a time. She now works to raise awareness about heart health and offer support to other patients facing heart valve disorders as part of the American Heart Association?s Heart Valve Ambassador program.

6.
About Heart Valves
New to managing your heart valve condition? The American Heart Association encourages you to learn about how your heart works and how each of the valves function. When you understand the specifics of what your doctor or healthcare team is trying to evaluate and accomplish through treatment, you?ll be better equipped to help great decisions.

7.
Heart Valve Diagnosis Criteria
As you prepare for heart valve testing for a complete diagnosis, there are several criteria used to determine your particular needs.

12.
Testing for Heart Valve Problems
To fully understand your heart valve problem, your medical team may want to perform a series of tests to provide a complete picture of what needs repair and what may be best left alone. Learn about the various tests you may undergo.

14.
Getting an Accurate Heart Valve Diagnosis
In order to decide the best treatment for your heart valve condition, you?ll need a careful evaluation. An accurate diagnosis helps you and your treatment team determine the risks and benefits of your treatment options.

16.
Problem: Heart Valve Regurgitation
Regurgitation occurs when blood flows back through the valve as the leaflets are closing or blood leaks through the leaflets when they should be completely closed. Learn about the types and how to deal with this heart condition.

18.
Problem: Heart Valve Stenosis
Stenosis is the term for a heart valve that doesn?t open properly. Learn about the different types of stenosis or stenotic valves.

19.
Medications for Heart Valve Symptoms
Most valve conditions cannot be treated with medication alone. Sometimes the problem is not severe enough to require surgical repair, but it is bothersome enough to cause symptoms or risks. In cases like these, a condition might be effectively managed for a while with medication.

20.
Problem: Pulmonary Valve Stenosis
Pulmonary stenosis is a restriction of blood flowing through the valve from the heart to the lungs. Learn about treatment and ongoing care of this condition.

21.
Heart Murmurs and Valve Disease
Problematic heart murmurs are most often related to defective heart valves. Learn more about ongoing care of this condition.

22.
Ross Procedure
The Ross procedure is often very effective for treating damaged aortic valves. Learn why it works

28.
Newer Heart Valve Surgery Options
People with high risks and severe aortic valve tightness may be good candidates for a less invasive repair or an alternative treatment called a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)

29.
Symptoms of Heart Valve Problems
Most valve conditions cannot be treated with medication alone. Sometimes the problem is not severe enough to require surgical repair, but it is bothersome enough to cause symptoms or risks. In cases like these, a condition might be effectively managed for a while with medication.

30.
Options for Heart Valve Repair
The goal of heart valve surgery is to cure the problem or lengthen life by restoring the function of your heart valves. Learn about valve repair vs replacement.

38.
Heart Valve Surgery Goals
When any person is considering heart valve replacement, it can be helpful to know the overall goals of the procedure and how your medical professionals will track the success and your return to wellness. Here are some of the likely goals for any valve surgery.

41.
What is TAVR?
Patients who cannot tolerate surgery for aortic valve replacement may be good candidates for a less invasive approach called TAVI or TAVR.

42.
Heart Valve Problems and Disease
The American Heart Association explains how your heart valves work and any problems or disease your valves can acquire, including regurgitation, stenosis and prolapse.

48.
Problem: Aortic Valve Stenosis
Aortic stenosis (or AS) is a narrowing of the aortic valve opening. Learn how it affects the heart valve and what you can do about it.

49.
Problem: Tricuspid Valve Regurgitation
Tricuspid regurgitation is leakage of blood backwards through the tricuspid valve each time the right ventricle contracts. Learn about ongoing care of this condition.

Nationwide, we invest over $132 million a year ($3.2 billion since 1949) in heart and stroke research that has led to recent breakthroughs such as clot-busting drugs and drug-eluting stents. Healthcare providers learn about medical advances and new treatment guidelines though our journals, conferences and online courses.